Honda Power Equipment, a division of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., and marketer of a comprehensive range of outdoor power equipment, announced today the expansion of its partnership with The Home Depot, the world's largest specialty retailer of home improvement and construction products and services. Beginning September 1, 2015, a number of Honda generator models will be sold at The Home Depot's top 300 U.S. PRO Desk locations, a specialized area of the store dedicated to the product and service needs of the professional contractor. The Home Depot PRO Desk is designed to make it faster and easier for contractors to shop for construction and building materials, helping pros save time and money.

According to the terms of the new agreement, Honda Power Equipment will supply The Home Depot with five of its generator models. Three Industrial Series models, the EB2000i, EB3000c and EB5000, and two Super Quiet Series models, the EU2000i and EU3000is, will be offered for sale at selected PRO Desk locations. In addition, The Home Depot also will make these five models, plus two additional Honda generator models—the Super Quiet Series EU1000i and EU3000i Handi—available for purchase via its website at www.homedepot.com.

By broadening its alliance with The Home Depot with the supply of EU and EB generator models, Honda Power Equipment can strengthen its multi-channel sales approach, creating growth and awareness among professional contractors of its portable power product and brand with the world's largest specialty retailer. This awareness is anticipated to drive sales growth, particularly in the commercial segment, through increased purchase consideration, product reviews and additional internet visibility. By extension, contractors and consumers have the flexibility to choose where they prefer to have products serviced —at one of The Home Depot service outlets, or through an independent servicing dealer. The result is overall improved customer service and satisfaction.

"The Home Depot has earned a reputation for an entrepreneurial spirit and excellence in customer service, and Honda Power Equipment's new agreement with this leading retailer illustrates an important, mutual ability to anticipate emerging customer needs and buying trends," said Mike Rudolph, vice president of Honda Power Equipment. "Honda Power Equipment combines depth of experience in building successful outdoor power equipment products for retail customers and providing a broad range of premium product offerings. Our goals are to reach more customers by expanding our brand awareness and product availability, and increase our market penetration."

Honda Generators at The Home Depot: Product Offering Spotlight

Honda Industrial Series generators include the EB2000i, EB3000c and EB5000 models, each generator equipped with features vital to the industrial and construction generator market. The EB2000ioffers inverter power producing 1,600 watts of continuous power (rated) and 2,000 watts maximum with the Honda fuel-efficient Eco-Throttle™. The Eco Throttle™ feature allows the generator to conserve fuel by varying engine rpm to produce only the power required to operate the equipment, improving fuel efficiency up to 40 percent. The EB2000i can operate from three to eight hours without the need for refueling, allowing the potential for working all day without interruption.

The EB3000c, which features CycloConverter™ technology, is typical of Honda's offerings for this market. Weighing only 71 lbs., it produces 2,600 watts of continuous power (rated)/3,000 watts (maximum) and can run for 6.1 hours at rated load on a single tank of fuel. The EB3000c, like all Honda generators, is powered by an advanced 4-stroke engine—in this case, the Honda GX200 overhead valve (OHV) commercial grade unit.

Powered by a Honda iGX Series commercial grade OHV engine, the EB5000 generator is designed with premium features and benefits at an outstanding value. iAVR, a Honda Generator exclusive system, delivers enhanced generator performance and power output—resulting in a 50 percent reduction in voltage fluctuation over other AVR systems. For up to 10 seconds, the iAVR allows for increased wattage above the maximum rating to start high-ampere load applications. The Honda iAVR system is achieved through the combination of the Honda iGX engine with Digital Capacitive Discharge Ignition (DCDI), Self-Tuning Regulator (STR) governor, and Current Transformer (CT) sensor coupled with the Digital Auto Voltage Regulator (DAVR) alternator.

The EU1000i and EU2000imodels(at 28.7 pounds and 45.6 pounds respectively) can easily be carried and conveniently stored (but not operated) in small recreational vehicle compartments. The EU1000i is the perfect solution for applications where basic power and ultra-light weight are required. The highly versatile EU2000i can power a computer, TV, coffee pot, refrigerator, tools on the jobsite, or provide basic power for camping and recreational activities. These units both feature a two-tiered noise dampening system that reduces noise to 59 dB(A)—quieter than normal speech which is approximately 60 dB(A)—at their rated loads. For a bit more power, the EU3000isis the smallest, quietest generator capable of starting and running most modern 13,500 BTU rooftop recreational vehicle (RV) air conditioners and other RV appliances. This model doubles as a home back-up unit to power a furnace, refrigerator, microwave, TV, hair dryer, and several lights. The EU3000is boasts a large fuel tank, electric start, and provides the quietest sound profile of any Honda model.

The EU3000i Handi model adds increased portability to the fuel efficiency and reliability of Honda's existing EU3000is generator. The lightweight and extremely user-friendly EU3000i Handi provides customers with dependable, portable power for use at home or at remote recreational sites. The EU3000i Handi also increases the breadth of the Honda EU generator Super Quiet Series lineup through enhancements in the areas of noise, size, usability and fuel consumption. Producing 3,000 volt amperes or 3,000 watts―of power, the EU3000i Handi meets a variety of power needs. The model's ample power output, exceptional fuel efficiency and super quiet operation make it well suited to provide home backup power during a blackout or other power emergency, while its easy operation and extreme portability (equipped with wheels and folding handle) suit it equally well for a campsite, RV camping and tailgating activities.

"The Home Depot is thrilled to build upon our long-standing, successful partnership with Honda by launching Honda Generators for sale in-store and online. Honda generators offer the power, innovation, and durability to meet our Pro customers' needs, and as such, represent a great growth opportunity for us both in this category," said Jim Hovis, Garden Merchandising Vice President, The Home Depot.

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Editor's Notes:

About Honda Power Equipment:Honda Power Equipment, a division of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., markets a complete range of outdoor power equipment, including outboard marine engines, general purpose engines, generators, lawn mowers, pumps, snow blowers, tillers and trimmers for commercial, rental and residential applications. Its comprehensive product line is powered exclusively by 4-stroke engines. Information for media regarding Honda products is available at www.hondanews.com.

The Home Depot is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer, with 2,270 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. In fiscal 2014, The Home Depot had sales of $83.2 billion and earnings of $6.3 billion. The Company employs more than 370,000 associates. The Home Depot's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor's 500 index.